Skip to content

Family-friendly things to do at Belton

A young child playing in the autumn leaves
Explore an incredible landscape of colour this autumn | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

Explore our fun family day out ideas, including our indoor play area and outdoor adventure playground. Make the most of your day out with the kids at Belton.

Planning your family visit

  • Booking your visit is no longer required.
  • The Outdoor Adventure Playground is open daily, and the train is operating Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 4.30pm, weather permitting. Daily service operates during Lincolnshire school holidays.
  • The Ride indoor play area is open daily, 9.30am - 5.30pm. No pre-booking required. Please note that at busy times, families will be given one hour of timed play.
  • Baby-changing facilities are available in the parkland, Stables Café, Muddy Hands, and the Ride toilets.

Autumn adventures at Belton

19 October – 3 November

Admire the changing colours of the season, as vibrant shades of gold and auburn frame the estate with glorious colour. Visit Belton this October Half Term and enjoy a variety of nature activities, such as the Leaves Spotters Trail and the Get Adventure Ready Trail.

Become an autumn adventurer and tick off some of the 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾! Head to the outdoor adventure playground and build your own den using natural woodland materials or get to know a tree in style this autumn while many trees are full of colourful leaves.

Autumn Wanders

Leaves Spotters Trail

How well do you know your leaves? This season provides the perfect opportunity to learn more about trees – pick up this guide during October Half Term and go on a hunt for different autumnal leaves.

Get Adventure Ready Trail

Become a Belton Nature Hero by helping the Belton Team on this Get Adventure Ready trail. Discover wild animal clues, go cloud watching, find your way with a map, and more.

Big Tree Climbing at Belton

Using ropes and harnesses, ascend into the canopy of one of Belton Estate’s largest trees with The Great Big Tree Climbing Company, and enjoy an exhilarating adventure at new heights.

During your climb, you will learn how to safely reach the top of the giant tree and take in the views of the estate. You can hang out in the canopy or venture further out onto the branches if you're feeling brave, before returning safely to the ground.

This activity is suitable for ages 6 to 100, and each session is run for up to 8 people, creating a unique and intimate experience. Each sessions lasts an hour.

Running 25, 26, and 27 October.

Autumn Crafts

Enjoy some autumnal crafts in the Activity Room (find us in the Estate Yard). Running between 11am - 3pm, no booking needed.

Wednesday 23 October: Leafy hedgehogs
Sunday 27 October: Paint your own leaf bunting
Wednesday 30 October: Autumn origami
Sunday 3 November: Mushroom printing

Funky Fungi walks

Discover more about the fungi that can be found at Belton, on this guided walk with Belton's Garden and Ranger Team. Please note, this is not a foraging walk. Book on the day at the Information and Accessibility Hub.

Dates:
Wednesday 23 October: 11am - 12pm
Friday 25 October: 11am -12pm and 2pm - 3pm
Tuesday 29 October: 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm
Thursday 31 October: 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm

Deer rut guided walks

Join the Ranger Team on this guided walk through the parkland and discover how they care for the herd, while keeping an eye out for any signs of the autumn rut. Don't forget to bring your camera!

Running between 16 - 22 October. Advance booking is required.

Two children on the rope and plank bridge in the play area at Belton House, Lincolnshire
Children exploring the play area at Belton House, Lincolnshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Belton’s outdoor adventure playground

Swing, dangle, wobble, climb and jump your way through, across and over the National Trust’s largest outdoor adventure playground, set within an ancient wilderness.

Play opportunities at Belton encourage challenging playful experiences in a safe environment to facilitate child development at all stages. The equipment’s designed to be challenging.

Only you know the abilities and limitations of the children in your care, so please keep a careful watch on them and make sure they’re playing safely. You’re also encouraged to play in the spaces provided so that everyone can enjoy the play experience.

The equipment is designed to be challenging

As a result, some equipment may not be suitable for all children.

Visitors enjoying a ride on the miniature railway, with a girl waving, at Belton House, Lincolnshire
Visitors enjoying a ride on the miniature railway at Belton House | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Take a train ride

Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 4.30pm, weather permitting. Daily service operates during Lincolnshire school holidays.

An adult ticket costs £2 per seat, and a child ticket is £1.50. The money raised from the train is used to help us maintain and keep the train running for future generations to enjoy. Thank you for your continued support.

Attention all passengers, journeys on Belton’s miniature train are now running. Take a train ride through the adventure playground, up to the woods and back again. The train driver writes the time of the last journey of the day on the station board.

Indoor play café

Here grown-ups get the opportunity to enjoy a refreshment or two, while the kids enjoy the indoor play area. Full of challenging fun for younger children, this is adventure play, not soft play. Find us in the stable yard. No pre-booking required. Please note that at busy times, families will be given one hour of timed play.

Offering a beehive, Bellmount Tower and the Fishing Lodge, joined together with hanging walkways, cargo nets, slides and tunnels – there’s hours of fun to be had. During term times, there will be early years and sensory play equipment for younger visitors.

Trees with autumn leaves in the gardens at Belton

Discover more at Belton

Find out everything you need to know about visiting Belton, including how to get here, things to see and do on your visit, and more.

You might also be interested in

Statue of Roman Goddess Diana surrounded by autumn colour
Article
Article

Visiting Belton House 

Packed full of treasures, discover a mansion bursting with history. Belton's collection tells a story rich in global history and our future work will focus on bringing those stories to life. 

Trees with autumn leaves in the gardens at Belton
Article
Article

Visiting the gardens at Belton 

Explore the gardens at Belton, including the Italian Garden, a Conservatory and a Dutch Garden with formal bedding schemes. Whatever time of year you visit, the shifting seasons provide a great variety of colour and wildlife to see.

Grey heron by the river
Article
Article

Exploring the estate at Belton 

Explore 1,300 acres of parkland at Belton and find out more about the wildlife you may see along the way, including the herd of historic fallow deer.

A hot cup of tea on a table in the Stables Cafe at Belton
Article
Article

Eating and shopping at Belton 

Rest and refuel in a historic setting or treat yourself to something special to take home. Find out about our dog-friendly café and other places to eat and shop.

Children playing in the woodlands at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire

‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’ 

Fancy running free in the fresh air, learning new skills and trying new things? Grab your gear and start your adventure.

A child and lady wrapped up warm, playing in autumn leaves

Family-friendly places in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire 

Plan a fun-filled day with the family in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire this autumn, including cycle trails, organised activities and discovery centres.

A group of four women along a path, in the background, down a hill is a reservoir

Visit 

Visit somewhere new and explore seasonal gardens, historic castles and outdoor spaces. With over 500 places to discover, where will your adventures take you?